Preps / High School Sports

Yates tradition in prep football

Three generations will be trying to help Kent Denver capture the 2A title

Three generations of one family are contributing to Kent Denver's success this season. Left to right, Dick Yates; his son Scott, the Sun Devils' coach; and Scott's son Rich, who plays in the secondary. Kent plays Faith Christian today for the 2A title.
(Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post
)

Dick Yates' eyes sparkle and a broad grin takes over his face when he contemplates what he's about to witness.

"I dream about it," he said.

It's a dream pure as a midnight snowfall.

It's about three generations stepping on the playing field and seeking a state football championship together. It's about an 83-year-old native Coloradan, his son and his grandson, writing another chapter in the state's sports history.

"This means a lot to me and there is a lot of pride involved," said the grandson, 17-year-old Rich Yates. "This is about my heritage."

Today, at Aurora's Legacy Stadium, the Yates family's Kent Denver Sun Devils (11-2) challenge Faith Christian (13-0) for the Class 2A state title. Rich's father, Scott, is the Sun Devils' longtime coach. His grandfather is the honorary coach, stopping by practice from time to time, offering a tip here and there.

Before the season began, Sun Devils players had T-shirts printed. On the front is the word "Toughness." On the back is the picture of a young Dick Yates when he played football for the University of Denver. The year was 1947. Yates' helmet was leather. He wore no face mask.

Dick, born in Denver in 1926, attended South High School. After his playing days at DU, he became a teacher and coach in the Denver Public Schools. He officially retired in 1985 after 35 years. In 22 years as a head coach in baseball and football, Yates' teams won 18 city championships, eight state championships and two regional championships, including summer play in American Legion baseball. He was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

When John F. Kennedy High School opened in 1966, Dick moved to the new school and became its first baseball coach. In the fall of 1974, Dick was the defensive coordinator at Kennedy. And so began the Yates' tradition of father coaching the son.

Scott was a standout senior wide receiver and outside linebacker at JFK as the Commanders won their first and only state football title.

"Growing up with my dad coaching in the Denver schools, I was a gym rat," Scott recalled. "I was always on his heels, always at the ballpark or the gym. From the very beginning I was attracted to the sports scene. It's always been a part of me."

Scott went on to play defensive back at the University of Colorado. When he graduated, his natural inclination was to follow his father's path and become a teacher and coach.

Scott joined Kent Denver in 1981. He led the Sun Devils to their first state football title in 1986 and a second one in 1991. His younger brother, Shannon, was a star on the 1986 team. Shannon went on to attend the Air Force Academy, where he became an all-Western Athletic Conference strong safety.

Now it is Rich's turn to attempt to stock the Kent Denver trophy case with another gold football.

Rich's road to today's game has been bumpy. Last year, he was the Sun Devils' starting quarterback, as a sophomore, leading the team to a 10-2 record. But in June he tore the ACL in his right knee while playing summer basketball. There were doubts he would be able to play competitive sports until after the Christmas break, but he's played in four playoff games as a defensive back.

"It's not just playing for the state title," Rich said. "Just being able to play in the playoffs means the world to me."

The son's steadfastness and focus caught his father off guard.

"I guess if there is a silver lining to his injury it was watching the unbelievable character and determination he's show, without anybody prodding him," Scott said. "The only reason he's able to contribute now is the dedication and effort he put into this."

Rich hasn't decided if he will follow his grandfather and father's footsteps into coaching and teaching.

"He might be too smart for that," Scott kidded.

But Rich wasn't kidding when he said, "I think what my family has done is pretty cool."

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